“You can have all the information you want in the world. If you don't have the people raising questions and lookin...

Monday, June 19, 2017

Anatomy of writing success

“I'm
a fisherman who likes to observe and tell yarns, and so I told stories about
things that I knew about.” – John D. Voelker

Born on this date in 1904, Voelker
is best known for his book Anatomy of a
Murder, written under his pen name Robert Traver.An avid fly fisherman and practitioner of the
law, Voelker almost became a bartender like his father, but was constantly
encouraged by his mother to get his education and pursue the law instead.

In law school at the University of
Michigan he nearly flunked out, but fought the grade ruling, got reinstated,
earned his degree and went on to a highly successful career, first as a trial
lawyer, then as a judge, and finally as a Michigan Supreme Court Justice.

Voelker wrote his first story,
"Lost All Night in a Swamp with a Bear" at age 12 and had his first
published piece, a short story called "Iron" in 1934.By that point he was immersed in the law and so
took on a pen name, a combination of brother’s first name and his mother’s
maiden name – because he "didn't think the taxpayers would fancy [him]
doing [his] scribbling on their time."

Anatomy
of a Murder is based on a real case that he won for the defendant in
1952.It not only was a best-selling
book but also an award-winning movie, filmed almost entirely in Voelker’s
Michigan hometown and county courthouse, the first time that type of filming
had been done.It has been named one of
the best trial movies of all time.

Voelker said he was glad he chose
the law and combined it with his love of writing tales.“Spinning yarns,” he said, “is a protection against the nuttiness... the
greed, and the hate all around us.”

Share A Writer’s Moment with a friend by clicking the g+1 button below.

About Me

In addition to years of writing of news, sports, and feature stories, both as a journalist and in public relations, I've authored seven books (and counting :), a one-act play, and three songs. I also contributed to two published anthologies.

My newest book, the historical novel And The Wind Whispered, has earned top reviews around the nation and a Silver Award in the Historical Fiction category at the 2016 Colorado Book Awards. Check it out on Amazon or Goodreads. It also is available ion both print and e-book formats through all major book outlets.

I enjoy public speaking on the topics of “Telling
an Effective Story,” “Effective Communication,” and “Storytelling – From
Journalism to Creative Writing" and have been an invited speaker at recent Historical Novel Society and Historical Writers of America national conferences. You can access an interview with me on YouTube at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3qNiwWshAM

I retired from Augsburg College (and my wife from St. Olaf College) in 2013 when we moved to Colorado, where I've been working on my books, writing for Broadlands Living magazine, and doing freelance marketing and p.r.